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Sunday, 29 June 2014

Not much happens in Luxor during the summer but the South Asasif project is an exception. Catch up with their blog here

Blog Post 5 | South Asasif Conservation Project Blog: Salima Ikram came to work on the animal bone deposit in the tomb of Karabasken. Her time at the site, although short, was extremely productive. We all learned a lot trying to assist Salima as best we could. Salima is sorting bones in the tomb of Irtieru assisted by her student Nick Brown.

If, like me, you are a keen follower of archaeological television programmes like Time Team and Meet the Ancestors, you will know how important it is for the archaeologists to know how the site they are investigating sits in its setting. Villages are built close to spring lines, Roman villas stand at the heads of river valleys, and burial sites are places upon the crests of ridges and watersheds. This branch of archaeology, known to the diggers as landscape history , is often a good way to begin to interpret a site and what its layers might hold.

For many years now, however, I have wondered why such interpretation is rarely done for sites in Egypt. One reason, of course, is historical there is just too much to be excavated, which means that Egyptologists rarely get the time to look at sites in their settings. But another reason for the lack of landscape research may well be the scarcity of source material about the landscape and its origins. This is also true of the books accessible to a more general reader. Books on translating hieroglyphs, or the gods of Ancient Egypt, or the latest theories on the pyramid builders are relatively common, but there are so few up-to-date books readily available to the tourist, scholar or interested reader on the landscape. Which is the reason why this new book on the geology of Egypt is to be welcomed.

The book states from the beginning that it avoids technical jargon. Instead, it has a glossary of key words and a useful bibliography in case the reader wishes to find out more about topics covered. That said, the book has to contain some technical concepts perhaps unfamiliar to the non-geologist reader. So we read about plate-tectonics and seafloor spreading, of geological time periods and types of rock, but these are all necessary to the plot, so to speak. The geological history of the River Nile is explained in a number of places, along with details of current thinking behind the origins of the desert oases (their possible origins identified from sand rivers first spotted from spaceships).

The book is arranged in a logical sequence, starting from the south at Abu Simbel and working northwards. In some parts there are reasonably detailed geological maps, such as around Aswan, but I suspect that, as in Britain, these are based on maps produced of geologically interesting places. In Aswan, for instance, the map might owe more to the survey carried out during the planning of the High Dam than to actual recent fieldwork by the author. In the chapter on Luxor, however, there is a wealth of detail on the effects of the various rocks upon the tombs and temples of ancient Thebes, making it quite clear as to why the Valley of the Kings is under so much threat from tourism.

Further north, there is a chapter on the pyramid fields of Lower Egypt, and it is obvious reading through the text that the debate over concrete pyramids can quickly be quashed, as they were clearly built out of nummulitic limestones quarried locally. As well as covering the traditional tourist traps of the Nile Valley, Sampsell investigates the Alexandrian coast and Delta in the north, looks at the Sinai Peninsula and also the geological history of the Red Sea. The handy pocket-sized book finishes with a series of colour photographs showing satellite images of the Nile Valley, of various sites the tourist might visit and of close-up detail of geological features and effects to be seen in the stone of the landscape and used for building the monuments.

Even though I confess a small amount of geological knowledge myself, I found the book interesting and useful. It doesn't take down to the reader, but gently guides them through the geological features of Egypt, yet is also of the right technical level to be useful to people with basic or even intermediate geological knowledge. I, for one, will be packing my copy in my luggage the next time I go to Egypt.

Tuesday, 17 June 2014

LUXOR, EGYPT—Live Science
reports that the remains of third-century plague victims have been
unearthed in Thebes at the Funerary Complex of Harwa and Akhimenru,
which was built in the seventh century B.C., by members of the Italian
Archaeological Mission to Luxor (MAIL)..................

Dr
Mamdouh arrived Eldamaty former director of the Museum of the Egyptian
Council of Ministers have been chosen within the composition of a new
cabinet to take over the Ministry of Antiquities, succeeding Dr.
Mohammad Ibrahim, who take over the ministry 4 times in 3 years

Was vibrated country has himself days before the occurrence of
communication between the Council of Ministers and Eldamaty among
several other figures in the framework of consultations choose the new
minister

Dr. Mamdouh Mohamed Gad Eldamaty born in Cairo on 12/6/1961, and fluent
in both German and English, and holds a Bachelor of ancient Egyptian
antiquities in 1983 from the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University,
and Master of ancient Egyptian antiquities in 1989 from the Faculty of
Archaeology, Cairo University, and was the subject of the message, "Hall
six Mschent Dendera temple .. religious and linguistic study ", and a
doctorate in ancient Egyptian antiquities from the University of Trier,
Germany, Federal, also received the Order of Knight of the President of
the Republic of Italy on 10/10/2004

The work of the Assistant Secretary of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo,
the summer of 1981 and the summer of 1982, and from June 1983 until
January 1984, and then from April 1985 to September 1987, also served as
Secretary of the Museum of the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University
from October 1988 until January 1996, also held the job as a teacher of
Egyptian antiquities at the Faculty Tourism and Hotels Cairo University
branch of Fayoum / 15 January 1996 to 5 / August 1998, and teacher of
ancient Egyptian antiquities Department of Archaeology Faculty of Arts -
Ain Shams University from 8/6/1998 until 31/1/2001, and the director
general of the Egyptian Museum of half / 2001 to 01/31/2004, and
assistant professor of ancient Egyptian antiquities, Faculty of Arts,
Ain Shams University from 25/3/2001 until 20/8/2006

And has taught at international universities, including Visiting
Professor, Department of Egyptian antiquities at the University of
Basel, Switzerland, in the summer semester of 2005, and teaching
materials "sparked Egypt in the Late Period and Ptolemaic era" and
"history of ancient Egyptian art," the Department of Egyptian
Antiquities at the American University in Cairo since half 2006 /, and
the teaching of ancient Egyptian art school, the Supreme People's
Volkeshochschule city of Trier, Germany, the federal summer semester of
1993 and the winter semester 1993/94)

The work of the Vice-President of the Regional Organization for Museums
Arab (ICOM-arab) from September 2001 - October 2003, the head of the
regional organization of museums Arab (ICOM-arab) from October 2003 -
September 2004, and a member of the Committee on effects of the Supreme
Council for Culture, and a member of the International Society for Darcy
Egyptian Antiquities International Association of Egyptologists, and a
member of the Egyptian Society for Historical Studies, and a member of
the Association of Arab Archaeologists, and member of the board of
directors of the Museum of Alexandria Library since January 2003 and
until now, and a board member of the Egyptian Museum (from 1/2/2001
until 31/01/2004), and a member of the Egyptian civilization to create a
site on the Internet in conjunction with IBM and the National Center
for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage (ended in April
2004). - See more at:
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.el-balad.com/1002903&usg=ALkJrhgqAgF6JobADH-Z30dVINTl5GSKJg#sthash.lmQJj4vu.dpuf

Dr
Mamdouh arrived Eldamaty former director of the Museum of the Egyptian
Council of Ministers have been chosen within the composition of a new
cabinet to take over the Ministry of Antiquities, succeeding Dr.
Mohammad Ibrahim, who take over the ministry 4 times in 3 years

Was vibrated country has himself days before the occurrence of
communication between the Council of Ministers and Eldamaty among
several other figures in the framework of consultations choose the new
minister

Dr. Mamdouh Mohamed Gad Eldamaty born in Cairo on 12/6/1961, and fluent
in both German and English, and holds a Bachelor of ancient Egyptian
antiquities in 1983 from the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University,
and Master of ancient Egyptian antiquities in 1989 from the Faculty of
Archaeology, Cairo University, and was the subject of the message, "Hall
six Mschent Dendera temple .. religious and linguistic study ", and a
doctorate in ancient Egyptian antiquities from the University of Trier,
Germany, Federal, also received the Order of Knight of the President of
the Republic of Italy on 10/10/2004

The work of the Assistant Secretary of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo,
the summer of 1981 and the summer of 1982, and from June 1983 until
January 1984, and then from April 1985 to September 1987, also served as
Secretary of the Museum of the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University
from October 1988 until January 1996, also held the job as a teacher of
Egyptian antiquities at the Faculty Tourism and Hotels Cairo University
branch of Fayoum / 15 January 1996 to 5 / August 1998, and teacher of
ancient Egyptian antiquities Department of Archaeology Faculty of Arts -
Ain Shams University from 8/6/1998 until 31/1/2001, and the director
general of the Egyptian Museum of half / 2001 to 01/31/2004, and
assistant professor of ancient Egyptian antiquities, Faculty of Arts,
Ain Shams University from 25/3/2001 until 20/8/2006

And has taught at international universities, including Visiting
Professor, Department of Egyptian antiquities at the University of
Basel, Switzerland, in the summer semester of 2005, and teaching
materials "sparked Egypt in the Late Period and Ptolemaic era" and
"history of ancient Egyptian art," the Department of Egyptian
Antiquities at the American University in Cairo since half 2006 /, and
the teaching of ancient Egyptian art school, the Supreme People's
Volkeshochschule city of Trier, Germany, the federal summer semester of
1993 and the winter semester 1993/94)

The work of the Vice-President of the Regional Organization for Museums
Arab (ICOM-arab) from September 2001 - October 2003, the head of the
regional organization of museums Arab (ICOM-arab) from October 2003 -
September 2004, and a member of the Committee on effects of the Supreme
Council for Culture, and a member of the International Society for Darcy
Egyptian Antiquities International Association of Egyptologists, and a
member of the Egyptian Society for Historical Studies, and a member of
the Association of Arab Archaeologists, and member of the board of
directors of the Museum of Alexandria Library since January 2003 and
until now, and a board member of the Egyptian Museum (from 1/2/2001
until 31/01/2004), and a member of the Egyptian civilization to create a
site on the Internet in conjunction with IBM and the National Center
for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage (ended in April
2004). - See more at:
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.el-balad.com/1002903&usg=ALkJrhgqAgF6JobADH-Z30dVINTl5GSKJg#sthash.lmQJj4vu.dpuf

Dr
Mamdouh arrived Eldamaty former director of the Museum of the Egyptian
Council of Ministers have been chosen within the composition of a new
cabinet to take over the Ministry of Antiquities, succeeding Dr.
Mohammad Ibrahim, who take over the ministry 4 times in 3 years

Was vibrated country has himself days before the occurrence of
communication between the Council of Ministers and Eldamaty among
several other figures in the framework of consultations choose the new
minister

Dr. Mamdouh Mohamed Gad Eldamaty born in Cairo on 12/6/1961, and fluent
in both German and English, and holds a Bachelor of ancient Egyptian
antiquities in 1983 from the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University,
and Master of ancient Egyptian antiquities in 1989 from the Faculty of
Archaeology, Cairo University, and was the subject of the message, "Hall
six Mschent Dendera temple .. religious and linguistic study ", and a
doctorate in ancient Egyptian antiquities from the University of Trier,
Germany, Federal, also received the Order of Knight of the President of
the Republic of Italy on 10/10/2004

The work of the Assistant Secretary of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo,
the summer of 1981 and the summer of 1982, and from June 1983 until
January 1984, and then from April 1985 to September 1987, also served as
Secretary of the Museum of the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University
from October 1988 until January 1996, also held the job as a teacher of
Egyptian antiquities at the Faculty Tourism and Hotels Cairo University
branch of Fayoum / 15 January 1996 to 5 / August 1998, and teacher of
ancient Egyptian antiquities Department of Archaeology Faculty of Arts -
Ain Shams University from 8/6/1998 until 31/1/2001, and the director
general of the Egyptian Museum of half / 2001 to 01/31/2004, and
assistant professor of ancient Egyptian antiquities, Faculty of Arts,
Ain Shams University from 25/3/2001 until 20/8/2006

And has taught at international universities, including Visiting
Professor, Department of Egyptian antiquities at the University of
Basel, Switzerland, in the summer semester of 2005, and teaching
materials "sparked Egypt in the Late Period and Ptolemaic era" and
"history of ancient Egyptian art," the Department of Egyptian
Antiquities at the American University in Cairo since half 2006 /, and
the teaching of ancient Egyptian art school, the Supreme People's
Volkeshochschule city of Trier, Germany, the federal summer semester of
1993 and the winter semester 1993/94)

The work of the Vice-President of the Regional Organization for Museums
Arab (ICOM-arab) from September 2001 - October 2003, the head of the
regional organization of museums Arab (ICOM-arab) from October 2003 -
September 2004, and a member of the Committee on effects of the Supreme
Council for Culture, and a member of the International Society for Darcy
Egyptian Antiquities International Association of Egyptologists, and a
member of the Egyptian Society for Historical Studies, and a member of
the Association of Arab Archaeologists, and member of the board of
directors of the Museum of Alexandria Library since January 2003 and
until now, and a board member of the Egyptian Museum (from 1/2/2001
until 31/01/2004), and a member of the Egyptian civilization to create a
site on the Internet in conjunction with IBM and the National Center
for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage (ended in April
2004). - See more at:
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.el-balad.com/1002903&usg=ALkJrhgqAgF6JobADH-Z30dVINTl5GSKJg#sthash.lmQJj4vu.dpuf

Dr
Mamdouh arrived Eldamaty former director of the Museum of the Egyptian
Council of Ministers have been chosen within the composition of a new
cabinet to take over the Ministry of Antiquities, succeeding Dr.
Mohammad Ibrahim, who take over the ministry 4 times in 3 years

Was vibrated country has himself days before the occurrence of
communication between the Council of Ministers and Eldamaty among
several other figures in the framework of consultations choose the new
minister

Dr. Mamdouh Mohamed Gad Eldamaty born in Cairo on 12/6/1961, and fluent
in both German and English, and holds a Bachelor of ancient Egyptian
antiquities in 1983 from the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University,
and Master of ancient Egyptian antiquities in 1989 from the Faculty of
Archaeology, Cairo University, and was the subject of the message, "Hall
six Mschent Dendera temple .. religious and linguistic study ", and a
doctorate in ancient Egyptian antiquities from the University of Trier,
Germany, Federal, also received the Order of Knight of the President of
the Republic of Italy on 10/10/2004

The work of the Assistant Secretary of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo,
the summer of 1981 and the summer of 1982, and from June 1983 until
January 1984, and then from April 1985 to September 1987, also served as
Secretary of the Museum of the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University
from October 1988 until January 1996, also held the job as a teacher of
Egyptian antiquities at the Faculty Tourism and Hotels Cairo University
branch of Fayoum / 15 January 1996 to 5 / August 1998, and teacher of
ancient Egyptian antiquities Department of Archaeology Faculty of Arts -
Ain Shams University from 8/6/1998 until 31/1/2001, and the director
general of the Egyptian Museum of half / 2001 to 01/31/2004, and
assistant professor of ancient Egyptian antiquities, Faculty of Arts,
Ain Shams University from 25/3/2001 until 20/8/2006

And has taught at international universities, including Visiting
Professor, Department of Egyptian antiquities at the University of
Basel, Switzerland, in the summer semester of 2005, and teaching
materials "sparked Egypt in the Late Period and Ptolemaic era" and
"history of ancient Egyptian art," the Department of Egyptian
Antiquities at the American University in Cairo since half 2006 /, and
the teaching of ancient Egyptian art school, the Supreme People's
Volkeshochschule city of Trier, Germany, the federal summer semester of
1993 and the winter semester 1993/94)

The work of the Vice-President of the Regional Organization for Museums
Arab (ICOM-arab) from September 2001 - October 2003, the head of the
regional organization of museums Arab (ICOM-arab) from October 2003 -
September 2004, and a member of the Committee on effects of the Supreme
Council for Culture, and a member of the International Society for Darcy
Egyptian Antiquities International Association of Egyptologists, and a
member of the Egyptian Society for Historical Studies, and a member of
the Association of Arab Archaeologists, and member of the board of
directors of the Museum of Alexandria Library since January 2003 and
until now, and a board member of the Egyptian Museum (from 1/2/2001
until 31/01/2004), and a member of the Egyptian civilization to create a
site on the Internet in conjunction with IBM and the National Center
for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage (ended in April
2004). - See more at:
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.el-balad.com/1002903&usg=ALkJrhgqAgF6JobADH-Z30dVINTl5GSKJg#sthash.lmQJj4vu.dpuf

Dr
Mamdouh arrived Eldamaty former director of the Museum of the Egyptian
Council of Ministers have been chosen within the composition of a new
cabinet to take over the Ministry of Antiquities, succeeding Dr.
Mohammad Ibrahim, who take over the ministry 4 times in 3 years

Was vibrated country has himself days before the occurrence of
communication between the Council of Ministers and Eldamaty among
several other figures in the framework of consultations choose the new
minister

Dr. Mamdouh Mohamed Gad Eldamaty born in Cairo on 12/6/1961, and fluent
in both German and English, and holds a Bachelor of ancient Egyptian
antiquities in 1983 from the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University,
and Master of ancient Egyptian antiquities in 1989 from the Faculty of
Archaeology, Cairo University, and was the subject of the message, "Hall
six Mschent Dendera temple .. religious and linguistic study ", and a
doctorate in ancient Egyptian antiquities from the University of Trier,
Germany, Federal, also received the Order of Knight of the President of
the Republic of Italy on 10/10/2004

The work of the Assistant Secretary of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo,
the summer of 1981 and the summer of 1982, and from June 1983 until
January 1984, and then from April 1985 to September 1987, also served as
Secretary of the Museum of the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University
from October 1988 until January 1996, also held the job as a teacher of
Egyptian antiquities at the Faculty Tourism and Hotels Cairo University
branch of Fayoum / 15 January 1996 to 5 / August 1998, and teacher of
ancient Egyptian antiquities Department of Archaeology Faculty of Arts -
Ain Shams University from 8/6/1998 until 31/1/2001, and the director
general of the Egyptian Museum of half / 2001 to 01/31/2004, and
assistant professor of ancient Egyptian antiquities, Faculty of Arts,
Ain Shams University from 25/3/2001 until 20/8/2006

And has taught at international universities, including Visiting
Professor, Department of Egyptian antiquities at the University of
Basel, Switzerland, in the summer semester of 2005, and teaching
materials "sparked Egypt in the Late Period and Ptolemaic era" and
"history of ancient Egyptian art," the Department of Egyptian
Antiquities at the American University in Cairo since half 2006 /, and
the teaching of ancient Egyptian art school, the Supreme People's
Volkeshochschule city of Trier, Germany, the federal summer semester of
1993 and the winter semester 1993/94)

The work of the Vice-President of the Regional Organization for Museums
Arab (ICOM-arab) from September 2001 - October 2003, the head of the
regional organization of museums Arab (ICOM-arab) from October 2003 -
September 2004, and a member of the Committee on effects of the Supreme
Council for Culture, and a member of the International Society for Darcy
Egyptian Antiquities International Association of Egyptologists, and a
member of the Egyptian Society for Historical Studies, and a member of
the Association of Arab Archaeologists, and member of the board of
directors of the Museum of Alexandria Library since January 2003 and
until now, and a board member of the Egyptian Museum (from 1/2/2001
until 31/01/2004), and a member of the Egyptian civilization to create a
site on the Internet in conjunction with IBM and the National Center
for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage (ended in April
2004). - See more at:
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.el-balad.com/1002903&usg=ALkJrhgqAgF6JobADH-Z30dVINTl5GSKJg#sthash.lmQJj4vu.dpuf

Tuesday, 10 June 2014

On Monday, Minister
of Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim said that the Spanish archaeological
mission discovered a tomb of a senior statesman from ancient Egypt's
eleventh dynasty in the Zeraa Abul Naga district of Luxor............................

Sunday, 8 June 2014

We are pleased to present to you the Theban tombs TT176 and TT177.
They are presented together, because they are now linked internally, even
though at least two centuries separated their construction. The interest of
this presentation also seems double: on the one hand, to make known the small
tomb TT176 of Userhat, which has just been the subject of a publication; on the
other hand, to present some rare enduring images of the scenes of the tomb
TT177 of Amenemopet, which has never been published.http://www.osirisnet.net/tombes/nobles/ouserhat176_amenemope17/e_ouserhat176_amenemope177_01.htm

Tuesday, 3 June 2014

In an effort to clear my overdraft and survive the summer I have published a new book. It is all the fault of Pip Faulks and Isabelle Owston. Pip videoed me talking about the temples of the 19th dynasty and comparing the temples of grandfather, father and son. Seti I, Ramses II and Merenptah. Then Isabelle said why didn’t I write a book.

When I used to guide I offered a tour of the three temples doing a comparison between them and a feel for the personality of the three very different Pharaohs so I had loads of information. I did brush up my facts and figures and there is a bibliography of the books I used and I also revisited the temples to see what had changed. The Ramasseum was the only one that had significant differences, with lots of tiding up in the first court and site management with helpful display boards.

Now if everyone of my online friends buys the book that means Flats in Luxor will survive this summer and Little Mohammed will keep his job! Apart from us personally eating and me getting my insulin. So please buy my book, share it on social media like your Facebook page and tell your friends.

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UK - co-owner of Flats in Luxor Group. British in origin, Egyptian at heart. First visited Egypt in 1979 and finally got to move here in 2003. Been there, done it and got the t-shirt(IT Consultant, PCG Chairman, ex cult member). Finally living my dream: Egyptology (doing an online Egyptology course at Manchester Uni), sunshine, cold beer and Mahmoud. What more could a girl want?